Passion for public service leads Centre alumnus to NYC Urban Fellowship

Jason Wong ’24 has always been driven to uplift the communities around him. That drive guided him, as a Centre student, to the Fulbright English Teaching Flagship program in Taiwan and now back to his hometown in New York City.

No matter the community or language spoken, he hopes to contribute positively by fostering belonging and self-confidence. At Centre, he did so by setting an example as a first-generation college student in many leadership positions across campus. In Taiwan, he empowered students to speak up by teaching public speaking.

“The goal is really for students to have the confidence in speaking up for what’s right,” Wong said. “It’s reinforced what I really hope to do, which is motivate my community and do what’s good for everyone.”

His career goals are rooted in public service, and a valuable stepping stone on his journey is being a New York City Urban Fellow. This nine-month, highly competitive fellowship sponsored by the City of New York welcomes 25 fellows from across the country. It provides young professionals with the ability to explore urban issues and gain firsthand experience working with public leaders and city agencies. For Brooklyn, New York, native Wong, the fellowship is a chance to see the government systems that shape the community that raised him.

“The Urban Fellows program gives me that opportunity to see government from the inside,” he said. “I see how decisions are made, how budgets are balanced and how city agencies collaborate to respond to big issues.”

He is particularly excited because of the program’s history and prestige. Many city decision-makers and leaders, including past New York City mayors and city council members, were once part of the 65-year-old program.

All the fellows began with a three-week orientation and interviewed with various agencies where they could be placed, including the Department of Transportation, Emergency Management, New York City Fire Department, and more. Wong was chosen to work with the Independent Budget Office, which has been a great fit for his career goals.

“I really wanted this position because it gives me a lot of freedom to decide what kind of policy writing I’m most interested in,” he said. “It’s a non-partisan agency and we give a lot of stats and data to different city agencies.”

Being part of a centralized, highly collaborative organization has opened the door for Wong to work on security policy with public safety officials. He’s also had the chance to network with prominent city leaders through a seminar series held every Wednesday for the fellows. He’s heard from a broad range of professionals, including the city’s executive director for environmental justice and the commissioner for human rights.

He sees a direct connection between the experiences he had at Centre and the work he’s doing now at the Independent Budget Office.

“Being at Centre helped me recognize the fondness of having a smaller community,” Wong said. “We’re able to bond, get to know each other more and find ways to help each other. The Independent Budget Office is actually considered a small agency with maybe 50-plus employees, but we do some of the most important work.”

Centre gave Wong many opportunities for leadership, including involvement with student government, being a Grissom Scholar, serving as a resident assistant and residence director, and co-founding the Asian American and Pacific Islander Coalition. 

Beyond campus, he sought out even more ways to lead and learn — from the Fulbright English Teaching Flagship program to the John R. Lewis Scholars and the Hansen Leadership Institute. With guidance from Director of Fellowships Robert Schalkoff, Wong pursued each opportunity with intention, building experiences that would continue to shape his path long after graduation.

“Jason is such a driven and proactive person,” Schalkoff said. “He has consistently identified and then successfully pursued fellowship opportunities that align with his personal interests and professional goals. I'm looking forward to hearing more about NYC Urban Fellows as he gets deeper into the fellowship and then the next steps he's working on now.” 

The encouragement and mentorship Wong found at Centre continue to inspire his commitment to service — and his growth academically, professionally and personally.

“My current work as a New York City Urban Fellow feels like a continuation of the community-focused work I’ve done throughout my undergraduate years,” he said. “This idea, along with the Chinese phrase ‘天下為公’ (the world belongs to all) from one of my favorite leaders, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, has always reminded me that service should benefit everyone, not just a few.”

Students interested in exploring the world of fellowships are encouraged to contact Robert Schalkoff at fellowships@centre.edu.